If you’ve decided that you’d like to cut out alcohol, you might be wondering what types of options there are for activities to aid in alcohol recovery. There are many different types of treatments and therapies you can try, as well as non-therapy activities. 12 Step Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and rehabilitation facilities are the most well-known forms of alcohol treatment. However, there are other things you can try that might be helpful. You can do these alone or combined with a more rigid treatment plan. Journaling has been shown to help with many types of stresses. In addition, pet therapy is helpful for many. You can pick up a new hobby to focus on, or go the more traditional route of a support group. However, you choose to tackle your alcoholism, keep your eyes on the goal of leading a healthier alcohol-free life.
Activities to Aid in Alcohol Recovery: Therapies and Hobbies
Journaling
Journaling is one of the activities to aid in alcohol recovery that is easy to start at home. Also known as writing therapy, it’s very helpful for many people who are feeling stressed. This is because it allows you to gather your thoughts and feelings throughout the day. In addition, it allows you to look objectively at your life over the course of several weeks or months. You might see patterns in behavior or mood that can help with your recovery. For example, if you tend to be more tempted to drink around a certain group of friends or when work is busy, you might not realize that’s a pattern until you keep a record of your experiences. Journaling can help you recognize patterns in your behavior which you can then try to prepare for in the future.
Pet Therapy
One of the most fun activities to aid in alcohol recovery is pet therapy. Pet therapy might mean getting yourself an emotional support animal or visiting with animals. An emotional support animal is helpful for many people suffering from different types of stressors. They have been proven to relieve stress, provide support, and improve mood and self-confidence in their owners. This is because owning a pet and being a good pet parent is very rewarding. If you aren’t interested in owning a pet, consider visiting with pets. For example, some people find riding horses to be very therapeutic. There are many ways you can get involves with animals to help with recovery from adopting one to volunteering at shelters.
New Hobby
Activities to aid in alcohol recovery can sometimes just be fun new hobbies. Having a new hobby to focus on is a great way to take your mind off of your withdrawal symptoms. Find something that you’re passionate about. Maybe there’s an old hobby that you’ve given up over the years like painting or knitting. Or perhaps you’d like to try something totally new like rock climbing. Physical activities like yoga or hiking have the extra benefit of strengthening your body as well. And group activities like a pottery class or rock climbing can give you a new place to meet people and be social.
Support Group
Finally, one of the most traditional activities to aid in alcohol recovery is trying a support group. The most famous of these is the twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. This program has been helpful for many years and for thousands of people to help with alcoholism. However, if you aren’t ready for group therapy like AA, you can simply ask your own circle for support. Your family and friends will want to help you on your journey to sobriety. You may find that if you confide in them that you’d like to get sober, they’re a huge source of support.
Whichever activities aid in alcohol recovery you choose, try to remember to keep your eyes on the goal of living a sober life. Your body will thank you for getting sober. And most likely, your social life and emotional health will improve too! You can try keeping a journal to help in stressful times. In addition, consider a support animal or visiting with animals in some way to improve your mood. A new hobby will help distract you from the stress of recovery. And finally, a support group might be just the thing you need to help you with your recovery. Hopefully, you’ll be able to try some of these techniques and have success with getting sober for good.
